A former Royal Marine wears his poppies with pride all year long - with seven tattooed on his back in memory of comrades he lost in Afghanistan.

Rob French's back is adorned with the large tattoo, featuring silhouettes of seven Royal Marines killed in the conflict during 2008 and 2009.

The piece is framed by seven large poppies to remember the fallen servicemen, who became known as the "magnificent seven" by colleagues.

Mr French, 35, served as a Royal Marine from 2006 to 2013, when he was medically discharged having reached the rank of lance corporal.

Former Royal Marine Rob French during compound clearances on Herrick 9 (Image: PA)

The father-of-two, of Weston-super-Mare is raising money in aid of The Royal British Legion and in honour of his fallen friends.

"Around this time of year, the public start wearing poppies to show that they remember the fallen, but for me and all the other servicemen and women who have been to war, every single day is Remembrance Day," the swimming instructor said.

"That's why I will always wear my poppies."

Married Mr French, who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), had his tattoo started in November 2015.

Rob French has seven poppies tattooed on his back in memory of comrades he lost in Afghanistan (Image: PA)

He described how he was particularly close to three of the Marines it features - L/Cpl Steven "Jamie" Fellows, L/Cpl Ben Whatley, and L/Cpl Jason Mackie.

"I decided to get the tattoo to place the reminder on my back so that they are with me and behind me pushing me on, rather than in front and holding me back," he added.

Mr French was deployed to Afghanistan in 2008, breaking his wrist badly while serving as a machine gunner during that tour.

He was flown back to the UK four months into his deployment to have the injury examined.